Upcoming

VOA Newscasts

VOA Newscasts

VOA Newscasts

More radio

Obama Gives Emotional Eulogy for Vice President's Son

Last Updated: June 06, 2015 1:37 PM

VOA News

President Barack Obama, back to camera, hugs Vice President Joe Biden during the funeral of his son former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden as Biden's widow Hallie, left, passes her husband's casket at St. Anthony of Padua church in Wilimington, Del.,

U.S. President Barack Obama gave an emotional eulogy at the funeral for Vice President Joe Biden's son, Beau Biden, calling him a "man who loved deeply and was loved in return."

Obama was among several people who honored Beau Biden Saturday at St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church in Wilmington, Delaware.

He said Beau learned from his father how to get back up when "life knocked him down," and that Beau was "very much his own man" who "brushed away the possibility of privilege for the better reward of earning his own way."

Beau Biden, a former Delaware state attorney general, died of brain cancer one week ago at age 46.

About 1,000 people packed the church to pay their respects, including former President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as well as General Ray Odierno, the former top U.S. commander in Iraq, where Beau Biden was once deployed for a year.

High-ranking members of Congress were also present.

Vice President Joe Biden, accompanied by his family, watches an honor guard carry a casket containing the remains of his son Beau Biden into a funeral service at St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church in Wilmington, Del., June 6, 2015.

General Odierno called Beau Biden a "patriot," saying he had the "incredible honor" to serve beside him in Iraq and to get to know him.

Vice President Biden's two surviving children, Hunter Biden and Ashley Biden, also eulogized their late brother.

The funeral capped an emotional three days of public mourning for Beau Biden, whose casket was displayed in the Delaware state Senate chamber on Thursday, before a public viewing at St. Anthony on Friday.

On both days, long lines of people gathered to pay their respects to Beau Biden and to console the vice president and his family.

Beau Biden battled brain cancer for several years and had been receiving treatment for the disease at Walter Reed Army Medical Center outside Washington.

Joe Biden's first wife and daughter were killed in a car crash more than four decades ago.